Dawnrunner #1: This Kaiju is Sponsored By…

Dawnrunner #1 is part blockbuster/part commentary for a bombastic entry filled with giant mechs taking on giant monsters. Prepare for epic fights and a story of global corporate domination and man’s pursuit of blood sports.

Nearly 100 years ago, giant monsters known as “Tetzas” emerged threatening human survival. With nations scrambling on what to do, five corporations emerged and built mechs known as Iron Kings (piloted by a human inside) to fight the nearly unstoppable enemies and usurping planetary power. Issue #1, how in the future, shows a world that looks different as readers are introduced to Anita Marr–a skilled pilot whose kill count dominates leaderboards.

While the concept of monsters emerging and humanity needing to develop mechs to fight them isn’t entirely new, there are plenty of layers within this story to keep it fresh and exciting. There is not a hint of world ending threats–in fact, that may not even be a problem anymore. The world is now operating under the umbrella of corporations and killing Tetzas is a televised event making for cheers and fandom around pilots who take on the monster for sport.

Writer Ram V’s script maneuvers between being a blockbuster story and having enough substance to not let the “style” overpower the comic. Anita Marr, the introduced protagonist, is interesting enough but hopefully subsequent issues will provide more depth as much of this issue is establishing the world. The hook at the end is interesting enough as it hints to cerebral elements of future entries, but until issue 2 that remains to be seen.

Artist Evan Cagle (who does the awesome cover as well) and colorist Dave Stewart make a great team and their work delves readers into lush green cities and subtle futuristic elements. The character design is solid and what works well is the third act showcasing the mech and one of the Tetzas. The scale and earth shaking battle resonates off of the page in such a satisfying way. The lettering by Aditya Bidikar is well done and stylized in the font and in the way the text is encompassed in exposition from the narrator.